1 of 20

Write now Article Tools

When the calendar ticks over into a new year, the resolutions begin. Many resolutions revolve around health and fitness, but along with those resolutions come the excuses. "Exercise is boring." "A gym membership costs too much." The same old excuses about the same old resolutions.

Why not make 2009 different? Find something enjoyable and affordable, and stick with it. Whether you prefer to exercise at home or at the gym, here are some current fitness trends to consider.

>Exercising At Home<

In the current economy, paying for unused gym memberships is just not an option. Luckily, the available choices for exercising at home keep growing.

*Games

Yes, games. Wii Fit, Wii Sports and other fitness games aim to make exercise fun again. Enjoy a variety of exercise routines, play tennis or go bowling, all without leaving your home.

The Wii console ships with everything you need to get started; it includes a controller, a nunchuk, and a copy of Wii Sports. Wii Fit, bundled with the Wii balance board, is sold separately and includes many of your favorite exercise routines. Additional controllers and nunchuks are also available, so family and friends can join in the fitness fun.

The Wii console package costs anywhere from $300 to $400, depending on the reseller. The Wii Fit bundle averages from $80 to $150. It's not cheap, but in the long run it's cheaper than an unused gym membership.

* Videos/Personalized Fitness

Exercise videos are hot again. But these are not your parent's workout tapes. Today you can create your own customized routines by downloading individual videos from your favorite trainers. Many trainers offer some videos free on their websites.

Other websites, like Fitness.com or Gimme20, offer memberships for personalized health and fitness information. Most also have community forums where you can share advice with others struggling with the same fitness issues you face. Some sites are free, while others offer a paid option. Check out the Fitness Websites Directory to find fitness sites specializing in your preferred exercises.

* Kettlebells

This 300-year-old workout, developed by Russian strongmen, exploded onto the fitness scene in 2008. It's easy to see why. The workout is low-impact and efficient, offering cardio, strength and flexibility in one easy workout. Even better, once you learn the basic moves, you can modify them to offer an endless variety of workouts. This is great for anyone who is easily bored.

The only cost involved is for a kettlebell (about $50 for a mid-weight one) and a couple of DVDs to help you learn the moves. If your favorite fitness website offers downloadable kettlebell routines, you don't even have to spring for the DVDs.

*Short Exercise Sessions

Many people find it difficult to find a single block of 30 minutes to exercise. Exercising at home makes it easier to fit in shorter sessions, multiple times a day. Just 10 minutes first thing in the morning and again in the evening, along with a brisk 10 minute walk at lunch, meets the recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity per day.

Using the above mentioned personalized routines means you can create short routines that fit into the time you have available. Even better, these short workouts typically involve minimal equipment. Walking requires nothing more

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Personal fitness 2009: Trends, equipment, new directions?
We want to hear your view. Write now!